Wiki Assignment #1
“America Dreams a Timeline”

Overview: For the past few days, we’ve been watching the HBO film Earth and the American Dream. This film gives us some context with which to begin our study of both American Literature and Culture. Now, I’d like you take your notes, do a little research, and make a “timeline” that is dynamic and interactive.

Assignment: In groups of 2-3 (honors class will make a group between 5th and 8th hour classes), you will add some information on an idea, event, or issue that occurred during a time period presented in the film (we may add some time periods or events to make sure each group has something to contribute) in order to create a kind of historical timeline. You will do this on the wiki by following the directions recording on the main page. Here is what each group must do:

1. Research info. on one idea, issue, etc to the time period.
2. Provide the dates your working with, as well as the names of your groups members
3. You must provide an image on the timeline that links us to your page. Be creative and logical.
4. The new page should have the following:
a. A paragraph or two on the issue or event. This will come from the film, but it will also require some research. Make sure you provide a link to your source or cite the book you used.
b. A collection of images and/or video to enhance our understanding of the idea, issue, or event you talk about
c. Some kind of audio that enhances our understanding of the idea, issue, or event you talk about.

Worth: 20 points (see rubric)

Due: Sunday, Sept. 14th at 11:59PM

See me if you need any help. Otherwise—

Good luck. We’re all countin’ on ya.

Mr. Mullen

Criteria for Success


Excellent:
1. Demonstrates an accurate and thorough depiction of the event selected. This event is based on something mentioned in the film.
2. Intelligently uses images, video, and audio to enhance our understanding of the event researched.
3. Provides accurate, insightful, and cited research to support the explanation.
4. Contains all the elements of the assignment.
5. All group members were utilized.

Good:
1. Demonstrates an accurate, but less than thorough depiction of the event selected. While there is useful information provided, the page isn’t as thorough or as thoughtful as it could be. This may be the result of basing the event on something outside of the film or doing limited research.
2. Uses images, video, and audio in some way to enhance our understanding of the event. Use of these technologies may not be consistently insightful.
3. Provides accurate, somewhat insightful, and cited research to support the explanation.
4. Contains all the elements of the assignment.
5. All group members were utilized.

Competent:
1. Demonstrates a slightly accurate, minimal depiction of the event selected. Information is provided, but that information may be slight and not applicable to the film.
2. Uses some images or video or audio, but it may not consistently provide any kind of insight or enhance our understanding of the event. In many ways, it’s simply image-just-for-image-sake, video-just-for-video-sake, and/or audio-just-for-audio-sake
3. Research is either minimal, lacks any kind of insight into the event, or is somewhat inaccurate.
4. Missing some elements of the assignment.
5. All group members were utilized, although some may have done more than others.

Incomplete:


1. Depiction of event is basically inaccurate and/or extremely brief in its explanation of the event.
2. Uses very little, if any, video, audio, or imagery. Or, the technology used is irrelevant and meaningless.
3. Little, if any, research is done or cited. There’s a sense that many things are just made up or provided without much thought regarding the source.
4. Missing elements of the assignment.
5. Members of the group are left out or don’t contribute.